I do my commercial work at the start of the month, on a fairly regular timetable. I then do the residential towards the end. Never quicker than 4 weeks sometimes 5.
Simple advice, get the idea of one off stuff out your head before you go. When you're doing the quote just don't mention one off. Ask them how often they want them done. It's a perfectly reasonable question to ask as its safe to assume that windows will get dirty again. The customer will either have an idea or ask you how often you come. Vary occasionally someone will tell you straight they just want a one off, if thats the case then just price accordingly. I've done 3 quotes this evening, 2 yesterday and got 5 new customers using that exact method.
Yeh, when I was first doing windows back in the day it was normal for fortnightly, now Monthly is the norm. Obviously you need twice as many customers now to have a decent round than back in the day. When comes to every two months, you need even more customers...and also lose that personal touch of them knowing you...so customer "loyalty" goes out the window...and remember you are always one clean or text away from losing the customer, so them knowing you is vital.
In the North of England 2 weekly cleans are still the norm in many places most of my work is fortnightly, With a new customer I always gently push every 2 weeks but I'm noticing more prefer every 4 weeks so I charge a bit more.
Fair do's something may happen in the future that turns it on it's head, the UK recession in 2008 was when a big change came in almost in an instant 2 weeklies went to 4, I lost quite a bit of money in earnings and had to quickly make it up
That’s strange as myself along with most other domestic windies hardly felt any sorts of loss during that recession. It was mainly the big commercial lads and the the domestic cleaners that just do the odd job here and there charging rediculas prices that took the hits.
paradoxically since 2008 my business has gone from strength to strength over the last 12 years,it was the years before the recession when i struggled......i was skint (and in debt) at times.....
We only offer 4 or 8 weekly on domestic unless it’s over £100 then we will do whatever the customer wants , this saves a lot of running around ford smaller jobs
If I were starting out again I'd base my business on 6 weekly schedules for sure, you can price a little more than for 4 and fill in the spaces with further customers, again at a premium. At 4 the payment comes round very quickly for the customer and the windows often aren't really dirty. At 8 the spiders have moved back in with all they're relatives and luggage so take more water, time and effort. I'd perhaps offer wider spacings for some of the really big properties but definitely priced accordingly.
When they clash just split them over two days. Or have your 4x weeks on a Monday and your 8 weekly son a Tuesday then they can’t clash. Except if you don’t work bank holidays.
Hi, see with me starting out in 2020 I have been taking 2 and 4 weekly customers as they are the most popular my area Stockton-on-tees can get pretty dirty in some areas specialy when there building in every corner of the place.
